Gujarat EDN
DNA 29AUG2012
Nikunj Soni l Ahmedabad
BJP MLA of Naroda and former state-level minister Dr Maya
Kodnani is key accused in the Naroda Patia case where 97 people were killed
during the wee hours of February 28, 2002. The judgment of the Naroda Patia
case on Wednesday will decide her individual and political fate.
The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has not made attempts to investigate the role of the BJP leader but she was arrested by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) and put behind bars for a few days. However, she succeeded in obtaining bail from the Gujarat high court.
Once always smiling, Maya became low profile after she was arrested in the Naroda Patia and Naroda Gam massacre cases in end of March 2009. Now she spends most of the time attending court hearings and is hardly active in politics.
Kodnani, who is a gynaecologist, is three-time MLA of BJP and was women and child development minister when she was arrested in the case, from which position she subsequently resigned. The SIT elaborated the major role played by Kodnani while filing an affidavit before the Gujarat high court while opposing her bail plea.
According to the SIT, Kodnani had lead and instigated the mob and also distributed the weapons. She was on the spot during the riots in Naroda Patia and eight witnesses have given statements before the SIT regarding her involvement. In one of the witness statements it has been revealed that Kodnani had fired from her pistol. She came to the spot in a car with other persons and distributed swords amongst the mob, the affidavit stated.
Elaborating on the serious nature of the crime, it stated, "She is involved in the act of spreading communal riots, committed mass murder or tried to commit murder, destroyed the property of large number of persons.” Therefore, the order of the session's judge should be rejected, it added.
The mobile call data CD prepared by IPS officer Rahul Sharma, who was DCP of the police control room and helped the crime branch to probe the case, is also instrumental in nailing Kodnani.
According to SIT, she was present at the scene of offence and even looking at the printouts of mobile phone, they show that her mobile phone was switched off from 7:53 hours to 9:57 hours. And again at 12:42 hours her presence is positively found in the area where the incident took place. It further stated that she is shown to be in legislative assembly till 08:40 a.m. She had ample time thereafter to visit the area of offence and take part in the offence and reach Sola Hospital by 9:57 hours.
Meanwhile, during the trial, she denied being at the spot of riots. She said she was at the Sola Civil Hospital with former minister Amit Shah. Even couple of government officials gave statements in favour of Kodnani.
The Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has not made attempts to investigate the role of the BJP leader but she was arrested by the Supreme Court appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) and put behind bars for a few days. However, she succeeded in obtaining bail from the Gujarat high court.
Once always smiling, Maya became low profile after she was arrested in the Naroda Patia and Naroda Gam massacre cases in end of March 2009. Now she spends most of the time attending court hearings and is hardly active in politics.
Kodnani, who is a gynaecologist, is three-time MLA of BJP and was women and child development minister when she was arrested in the case, from which position she subsequently resigned. The SIT elaborated the major role played by Kodnani while filing an affidavit before the Gujarat high court while opposing her bail plea.
According to the SIT, Kodnani had lead and instigated the mob and also distributed the weapons. She was on the spot during the riots in Naroda Patia and eight witnesses have given statements before the SIT regarding her involvement. In one of the witness statements it has been revealed that Kodnani had fired from her pistol. She came to the spot in a car with other persons and distributed swords amongst the mob, the affidavit stated.
Elaborating on the serious nature of the crime, it stated, "She is involved in the act of spreading communal riots, committed mass murder or tried to commit murder, destroyed the property of large number of persons.” Therefore, the order of the session's judge should be rejected, it added.
The mobile call data CD prepared by IPS officer Rahul Sharma, who was DCP of the police control room and helped the crime branch to probe the case, is also instrumental in nailing Kodnani.
According to SIT, she was present at the scene of offence and even looking at the printouts of mobile phone, they show that her mobile phone was switched off from 7:53 hours to 9:57 hours. And again at 12:42 hours her presence is positively found in the area where the incident took place. It further stated that she is shown to be in legislative assembly till 08:40 a.m. She had ample time thereafter to visit the area of offence and take part in the offence and reach Sola Hospital by 9:57 hours.
Meanwhile, during the trial, she denied being at the spot of riots. She said she was at the Sola Civil Hospital with former minister Amit Shah. Even couple of government officials gave statements in favour of Kodnani.
